What the Tour of UAE is, in practical terms
The UAE Tour is a men’s UCI WorldTour stage race held every February. It replaced the former Abu Dhabi Tour and Dubai Tour, combining them into a single event starting in 2019.
From a rider’s point of view, the format is straightforward:
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Flat desert stages for sprinters
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One or two summit finishes that decide the general classification
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Little room for surprise outside wind, positioning, and pacing on long climbs
That simplicity is part of why the race settled quickly into the WorldTour calendar. Teams know what they are coming for, and riders use it as a benchmark for early-season form.
Tour of UAE history: how it started
The Tour of UAE history officially begins in 2019. The idea was to create a single, higher-profile race instead of multiple smaller events in the Emirates.
Key points from the early editions:
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WorldTour status from the start
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Strong participation from top teams and GC contenders
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A course built around iconic climbs rather than technical complexity
The defining features were introduced immediately:
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Jebel Jais, long and steady
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Jebel Hafeet, shorter, steeper, and more selective
Those climbs still decide the race today.
How the race has evolved since 2019
The structure of the UAE Tour has not changed much, and that is intentional.
What has evolved is the level of competition:
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Early editions attracted strong riders, but not always full GC line-ups
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From 2021 onward, it became common to see Tour de France contenders on the start list
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Teams started treating it as a controlled environment to test pacing, equipment, and team roles
The race does not reward aggression everywhere. It rewards discipline:
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Staying out of trouble on flat stages
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Protecting leaders in crosswinds
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Delivering a clean effort on the final climbs
For many riders, that makes it more useful than chaotic early-season races elsewhere.
Tadej Pogacar and the UAE Tour
It is hard to talk about Tour of UAE history without focusing on Tadej Pogacar.
Pogacar has won the race multiple times and often with authority. What stands out is not just the results, but how he won:
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High, steady power on long climbs
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Clear dominance without needing tactical complexity
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Consistent performance year to year
For fans and riders, his presence has set a reference point. When Pogacar lines up:
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The GC battle usually becomes a fight for second place
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Jebel Hafeet turns into a pure pacing test
Because he rides for UAE Team Emirates, the race also functions as a home event, which adds pressure but also structure.
Bikes, Aero, and Colnago’s visibility
From a technical perspective, the UAE Tour is a clean showcase for modern road racing.
UAE Team Emirates rides Colnago bikes, and the race often puts those frames under a spotlight:
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Long climbs with steady gradients
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High-speed flat stages
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Little need for extreme handling or braking performance
If you are curious about the bikes used at this level, you can see current and past Colnago road models here:
From a rider’s perspective, the interest is less about marketing and more about context. This race shows how modern aero road bikes behave on long, uninterrupted efforts rather than short, violent climbs.
Typical stages and what actually decides the race
Most editions follow a similar pattern:
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4–5 flat stages for sprinters
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1 individual time trial or transitional stage
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1–2 summit finishes
In practice, the GC usually comes down to:
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Time gaps on Jebel Hafeet
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Occasionally, smaller gaps on Jebel Jais
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Rarely, splits caused by wind
Crashes and crosswinds can matter, but they are not the core of the race. Compared to European stage races, the UAE Tour is more controlled and more predictable.
Looking ahead to the 2026 edition
Based on how the race has been run so far, there is no reason to expect major changes by 2026.
What is likely to stay the same:
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February slot in the calendar
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Balanced field of GC riders and top sprinters
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One decisive mountain stage
What may change:
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Which top GC riders use it as preparation
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Whether Pogacar targets it again, depending on his season goals
For fans, the value of the race is not drama but clarity. It shows who has done the winter work.
FAQs
How did the Tour of UAE start
The Tour of UAE started in 2019, merging the Abu Dhabi Tour and Dubai Tour into a single WorldTour event with stronger international visibility.
Who won the Tour of UAE last year
The most recent editions have been dominated by Tadej Pogacar, continuing his strong connection with the race and its defining climbs.
Conclusion
The Tour of UAE history is short, but coherent. Since 2019, the race has carved out a clear role as an early-season WorldTour benchmark built around controlled racing and decisive climbs.
For riders and fans, its value lies in consistency. The same climbs, similar conditions, and comparable start lists make it easy to read form and performance. Looking ahead to 2026, that is unlikely to change, and that stability is exactly why the UAE Tour continues to matter.
